Wen Yun and the housekeeper escorted Ruan Yu to the examination area, where they were stopped by a teacher maintaining order, who looked apologetic: "Excuse me, Miss Wen, non-examinees please stop here."
So she stayed where she was, pointed to a tall pomelo tree beside her, and said to Ruan Yu, "The first exam ends at 11 o'clock. Aunt Ge and I will wait for you under the tree beforehand. The same goes for the two exams in the afternoon. After the exams, I'll take you to the cafeteria for lunch!"
Ruan Yu smiled and replied "Okay." As she and the housekeeper watched her walk into the teaching building, she lowered her eyes slightly, revealing a joy that even she herself did not realize.
After entering the classroom, she put aside all distractions and took out her pencil case and admission ticket one by one as soon as she sat down. She silently recited the famous quotes that were sure to be on the test, calmed herself down, and waited patiently for the test papers to be handed out.
Last night before bed, she had already reviewed the scope of the entrance exam. Many of the memories she had accumulated while preparing for the college entrance exam in her previous life also became clearer as she reviewed.
The entrance exam wasn't difficult; it was just a preliminary test, much simpler than a mock exam. Having been given a second chance at life, she was very confident of getting a high ranking.
-
After Ruan Yu entered the teaching building, Wen Yun greeted the butler, took the parasol handed to her by the butler, and began to stroll around this castle-like European-style aristocratic school on her own.
"Can you record the path I've walked?" she asked the system as she paced back and forth. "I mean, real-time recording."
"Yes, host."
"Start recording now, compare the locations with the downloaded campus map, and mark them in real-world settings," Wen Yun instructed. "Also, highlight the surveillance footage; this is for the protagonist's safety on campus."
Since she has the system, it's always safer to have an extra backup plan.
Having strolled through most of the campus, taking notes as she went, Wen Yun already had a general idea of what was going on. Her fingertips rubbed against her phone, and she felt a strange sense of anticipation.
I wonder if the original author had a strange penchant for "combining Chinese and Western styles." This European-style campus also features many Chinese-style landscapes, such as pavilions, lotus ponds, and small gardens.
Wen Yun took many photos along the way. Many places were very quiet and suitable for relaxation, and there was also surveillance, which made her feel at ease.
The pressure of senior year in high school is immense, and these places can be used by the protagonist to relax during their time at school.
The sun was getting hotter and hotter, and even with an umbrella, Wen Yun couldn't stand it any longer. Luckily, there was a book cafe not far away, so she quickly walked over.
As soon as the automatic door opened, the cool air from the air conditioner blew in, making Wen Yun feel comfortable all over. She put away her parasol and was about to find a seat when she saw someone waving at her.
"Yunyun! Come over here quickly!"
Wen Yun looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl with heavy makeup, wearing a short dress with puff sleeves and long, straight, wine-red hair, smiling brightly. The moment their eyes met, the name "Lin Qiqi" automatically flashed into Wen Yun's mind.
...How did this little vixen get here?!
A note from the author:
Qiqi is one of us! _(:з」∠)_
Chapter 9
Even though she wasn't forced to maintain the original owner's persona, Wen Yun thought for a moment and, following the original owner's habits, greeted Lin Qiqi warmly and calmly sat down next to her.
"Why did you come here?" Wen Yun asked with a forced smile.
Lin Qiqi hurriedly explained, "Ruan Yu has an entrance exam today, so I was thinking if I could run into her, invite her for a coffee or a meal, just to get acquainted with her first, so that when I come to apologize next time, I won't scare her away..."
Knowing she was in the wrong, her voice gradually softened.
Wen Yun was naturally happy that the villainous female supporting character had voluntarily reformed.
But despite her joy, she couldn't help feeling a little scared.
If I hadn't run into this little vixen today, and had actually let her be alone with the protagonist, would things have turned out differently?
Wen Yun didn't actually like to speculate about others like this, but she couldn't bear the suffocating feeling that Lin Qiqi had left her with.
Too many novels depict arrogant and domineering scions of wealthy families who distort the truth. She is not Wen Yun herself, and the memories of their friendship of more than ten years are no different from reading someone else's memoir to her. She does not trust Lin Qiqi for the time being.
"Xiaoyu only finished her Chinese exam at 11:00 AM, and she has math and English exams in the afternoon, so she's really pressed for time," Wen Yun reminded her. "Besides, she also needs to prepare for her exams. If you want to get to know her beforehand, maybe another day. Today really isn't a good time. Also..."
She deliberately kept everyone in suspense, then said seriously, "Don't do this kind of thing again. Isn't it better to focus on studying?"
Wen Yun detests school violence. She will do everything she can to stop any kind of bullying, like those shady tactics in the original story, such as calling on others to lock the protagonist in the toilet or on the rooftop, or ganging up to isolate the protagonist.
Lin Qiqi nodded repeatedly, her eyes sincere: "I remember! I promise you, it will absolutely, positively never happen again! But..."
"But what?"
"But I'm already here today, so let's check Xiaoyu's grades... she should be alright, right?" Lin Qiqi asked cautiously. "Although today's exams only covered Chinese, Math, and English, these are all core subjects. If she's lacking in any area, I can help her find a tutor! Consider it... consider it compensation for her emotional distress, what do you think?"
Wen Yun was stunned.
Unexpectedly, when she scolded this little rascal, he became timid and even offered to send her tutoring resources.
However, considering that such a development would be beneficial and harmless to the protagonist, Wen Yun nodded in agreement: "Okay, but after the first exam, I need to take her to eat and rest first. When she takes the exam in the afternoon, we will go to the teacher together to check the results."
Lin Qiqi nodded repeatedly, then suddenly asked cautiously, "Then, when you eat, can I pay the bill?"
Wen Yun: "..."
She never realized while reading the book that this little villain had such a humble side.
-
At 10:45, Wen Yun and Lin Qiqi left the book cafe and walked back to the pomelo tree under their umbrellas.
The exam wasn't over yet, and the housekeeper hadn't arrived; only the parents of other transfer students were anxiously waiting.
Lin Qiqi carried three cups of coffee in one hand and took out a small fan from her bag with the other. She blew the fan on herself and Wen Yun while whispering, "There's something I don't quite understand."
"What's up?"
“Since Xiaoyu is the real heiress, why doesn’t your uncle change her surname and transfer her household registration?” Lin Qiqi asked. “But if it’s inconvenient for you to say, you don’t need to answer me.”
Wen Yun thought there was nothing wrong with saying this, so she continued, "I don't understand either. I only know that Dad gave Xiaoyu the choice, saying that she can choose for herself in another year."
"So, Xiaoyu can still choose to leave the Wen family a year from now?!" Lin Qiqi's eyes widened, and she exclaimed after a long while, "That's amazing! What's there to choose? With your family's excellent conditions, I don't believe anyone would come here and want to leave!"
Wen Yun smiled but remained silent.
It all depends on the protagonist's personal wishes. If the Wen family treats her badly as they did in the original story, she might as well leave and at least live a free and unrestrained life.
At exactly 11 o'clock, as the exam ended, the butler finally arrived, carrying two exquisitely crafted beverage takeaway bags.
The housekeeper was quite surprised when he saw Lin Qiqi, and looked down at the bag in his hand with a troubled expression.
Seeing her embarrassment, Lin Qiqi quickly held up her coffee: "Aunt Ge, I brought my own drink!"
"Thank you, Aunt Ge, you've worked hard." Wen Yun said politely. "Qiqi and I will be keeping Xiaoyu company for a while. It's too hot outside, so please find a shady place to avoid the heat, okay? You can share these two drinks with Sister Luo."
The housekeeper knew they were best friends who had grown up together. Upon hearing this, she simply told Wen Yun to contact her if she needed a car, and then turned and walked gracefully toward the school gate.
As soon as she left, Lin Qiqi craned her neck and looked around towards the entrance of the teaching building: "Where is Xiaoyu taking her exam? Why hasn't she come out yet?"
"I saw her go into the lab building," Wen Yun recalled. "Maybe the exam floor is on a higher floor, so be patient."
About half a minute later, Ruan Yu came into their view.
Lin Qiqi recognized it immediately—the designer clothes Ruan Yu was wearing—and was immediately shocked: "Yunyun! Isn't that your favorite outfit?!"
“Yes.” Wen Yun nodded calmly, deliberately saying, “These are new clothes that I just ordered last night and haven’t been delivered yet, so I picked out a few outfits that I liked and gave them to Xiaoyu so she can make do with them for now.”
Lin Qiqi's eyes widened immediately, and she exclaimed admiringly, "As expected of Yunyun! So poised!"
As Ruan Yu approached, she immediately adjusted her expression, holding up her coffee and flashing a bright smile: "Xiao Yu~ Come over here!"
When faced with Lin Qiqi's friendly gaze and smile, Ruan Yu was stunned. For a moment, she even thought she was hallucinating because she had been working on her exam.
Of course she still remembered the person with long, straight, wine-red hair, Wen Yun's best friend since childhood, Lin Qiqi.
Many of the things she experienced in her past life were thanks to Lin Qiqi.
Just thinking about those unpleasant memories made Ruan Yu's stomach start to ache again, and her heart was pounding.
Nevertheless, she quickly put on a smile, took a few steps closer, glanced at Lin Qiqi with feigned surprise, then looked at Wen Yun and asked softly, "Yunyun, who is this...?"
"This is Qiqi, the Lin family's daughter, and my best friend." She listened as Wen Yun introduced her in a soft voice, and a pink parasol was placed over her head. "You can also call her Qiqi."
These words made Ruan Yu's heart skip a beat. Then she heard Lin Qiqi ask enthusiastically, "I bought you coffee, it's a sweet caramel macchiato, would you like to try it?"
Ruan language: ?
What's going on here?
She hesitated for a moment, but finally accepted the caramel macchiato and tried to say in a relatively gentle voice, "Thank you for the coffee."
Lin Qiqi was overjoyed and continued, "Xiaoyu, haven't you been to our school cafeteria yet? I'm treating Yunyun to dinner today, why don't you come along? You can eat as much as you want, I can afford it!"
Ruan language: ...
She had never seen Lin Qiqi like this before, it was as if... the other party was deliberately trying to please her.
But she was just a student who had just come from the countryside, and for the time being, she didn't have any strengths that would make the Lin family's daughter want to please her.
Could it be... that Wen Yun said something to Lin Qiqi?
Thinking of this, Ruan Yu stroked the handle of the coffee delivery bag and said politely, "Okay, then I'll gladly accept your offer."
-
Langying's canteen was a bit far from the examination hall. After entering, Wen Yun quietly looked around and was secretly amazed.
Even though she had carefully read the original description of the cafeteria and seen photos uploaded by others, the shock she felt upon seeing it with her own eyes was still undiminished.
The level of luxury in this cafeteria far surpasses the university cafeteria she used to attend in her previous life, which was known as the "best cafeteria in the province"!
Not only is there a buffet restaurant, but there is also a food court, and afternoon tea and late-night snacks are served at special times. The dishes are attractive enough just by looking at them and smelling them!
To make it seem like she was being treated to a meal, Lin Qiqi specifically requested a small four-person private room by the window. After telling Wen Yun and Ruan Yu where the room was, she took her tray and headed straight for the pasta window.
Wen Yun led Ruan Yu to the self-service area, explaining as they walked: "This is the self-service area, all ready-made dishes. Just take whatever you want, and it's weighed and charged. The place Qiqi just went over is one of the freshly made windows. They sell both Chinese and Western snacks there, like fried rice, mutton rice noodles, cold noodles, spaghetti, sushi, and so on. Just look at the signs above and choose what you want. After you've made your selection, just go to the checkout area and wait for Lin Qiqi."
After saying that, seeing Ruan Yu nod, she went to choose her own lunch.
Wen Yun browsed around and picked out a vegetable salad, a foie gras roasted meat platter, a few pieces of pan-fried cod, and some small desserts. As soon as she went to the checkout area, she saw Ruan Yu already standing in the waiting area with only a large bowl of beef fried rice on her plate, which was filled to the brim.
Wen Yun was both amused and exasperated, and couldn't help but ask, "Don't you want to eat something else?"
“This is enough,” Ruan Yu explained with a smile. “It’s quite filling, especially with the coffee that Miss Lin gave me.”
Because of what happened in her previous life, she can't bring herself to call her by the nickname "Qiqi" yet.
Wen Yun knew that she was rather introverted, so she didn't correct her polite way of addressing her and waited with her for Lin Qiqi to come and pay the bill.
When they returned to the private room for dinner, fearing that Ruan Yu would feel uncomfortable, Wen Yun simply let her sit on the same side as her.
Although the Wen family motto is "Don't talk while eating," they were eating out now, and Wen Yun didn't really want to follow that rule. But as they ate, she started talking: "Xiaoyu, did you think that exam was difficult?"